The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-10-08
Written for The ArkansdiO Trareler.
 ADVICE TO A DETROIT HUMORIST.

The following was handed me by the postmaster the other morning. The envelope bore the Detroit post mark and there were ten cents to pay
 DETROIT, MICH, L. s. A. SIR: am somewhat of a humorist, though unrecognized here as such. It has struck me, however, that there might be better chance of recognition in England Perhaps you would kindly enlighten me on this and one or two other points. Would the following joke be likely to be accepted by Punchf when does letter for the mail resemble eTm T de seems to be dead set against my humorous productions here, and fully believe my un- doubted talents. would be far better appreci, chance would I have in the poetical line, judging from the enclosed specimen! Yours.
 WILLIAM WALL. There is decided opening for humorist in England and thoroughly conscientious man with the necessary qualifications would stand good chance. But this opening is big, vawning chasm, into which something more than cork will have to be fitted to fill. Time was-but that is past when one Tom Hood, of whom you may have heard, William, waved his genial wand and filled the aching void. Since then the void has contin- ued to ache without intermission un- til now. Yes, William, there is grand opening for humorist in Eng land, but not tlippant, gay, rollick- ing, happy -go-lucky fellow with a penchont for side-splitting .iep Fespyits. That might do very well for young, giddy republic like the United States, but what they want here is man who can cast blight over the community and feel no re- morse, man fully alive to the so- lemnities of life and the near approach of death. If you have any doubts as to the rectitude of this statement, William, l will post you on copy of Punch, after careful perusal of which am sure you will rise up convinced. The specimen of humor you submit, with the query as to whether it would be likely to be accepted by Punch, goes far to prove that you must have had some insight into the methods and standard of merit adopted by that journal. Without the slightest inten- tion of flattering you or Punch, l un- hesitatingly reply it would. If YOU can turn out any amount of that kind of thing your fortune is made, and you had better secure your berth on an English bound vessel right away. You must bear in mind however that you will have much to put up with. The brilliant coterie of litterateUs at tached to Punch and its sad -souled contemporaries are rather biased against foreign competition, and might be inclined to look with any thing but a favorable eye upon one like yourself coming from alien shores to introduce an article into their mar ket, equal if not infinitely superior to their own. Still, do not let this keep you from your purpose. Remember what Napoleon said crossing Lake Michigan and never despair.
 You see from the above remarks William, that I am thoroughly with you in your belief that your talents as a humorist would be more appre- ciated here than in Detroit. It i: hardly to be expected that you would meet with recognition in your owr city, when you are so heavily handi. capped by such world renowned humorist as M. Quad, of the Ere, Press, not forgetting Luke Sharp o the same paper, who, by the way, ii better able to give you points on hu. nor in England than am.
 As to whether you would stand { chance over here in the "poetical line it is more doubtful. You seem to pos. sess the poetic instinct ia ertenso, bu whether you have it bad enough is different matter. From the specimen you send, entitled "C Creation" shoult say you have. For example, look a your first three verses
 CREATION.
 How busy is the fly,
 He scoots around like any thing; e.
 He never will say die,
 He lives on like anything.
 How busy is the sun,
 Its as hot as any thing,
 Its work is never done,
 It shines away like anything.
 How busy is the sea.
 Itrolleth on like any ything;
 It gets clean over me,
 It gets clean over any thing
 It is apparent that your great riva here would be Tennyson, and Swim burne might give you trouble. would advise you, however, to stick t. humor. It is more your forte.
 HAL BERrE.
 HoDDEsDoN, HERrs, ENGLAND.